Republican supporters stressed that the bill is about protecting religious freedom and not discrimination.

The House approved the bill on a 33-27 vote early Thursday evening, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in opposition. The state Senate passed the bill a day earlier on a straight 17-13 party-line vote.

House Bill 2153 allows people to claim their religious beliefs as a defense against claims of discrimination.

Similar bills have come up in a handful of other states, but only Arizona’s proposal has passed.